PLANNING NEEDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23078, 1 July 1938, Page 11

PLANNING NEEDED

FUTURE MIGRANTS NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION STATEMENT BY MR. SAVAGE MANY FACTORS INVOLVED [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL RKPOKTEII] WELLINGTON, Tli u rsd a y The necessity for a prop rly planned scheme in any resumption of Empire migration was stressed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, when he was asked to comment today on the cabled summary of the report by the Oversea Settlement Board. "If we try to bring people to New Zealand without planning in advance," he said, "we 'will merely be repeating the insanities of the past. "As far as the Labour Government is .concerned," Mr. Savage continued, "we have realised all along that it is impossible to hold an empty country for ever. Other peoples are clamouring for an opportunity to produce raw materials and the only way that we can hold the country is to bring people hero to fill places which have been made for them in advance." There was too much talk of immigration solely in association with land settlement, the Prime Minister said. It was not much use extending primary production unless there could be a guarantee of increased consumption both here and abroad. The attitude of the British Government had still to be defined. Quite apart from that, it, was self evident that attention would have to be paid to the extension of the Dominion's manufacturing industries as well as to the development of primary production. The problem of planned immigration was likely to involve considerable expense, Mr. Savage continued. As far as primary production was concerned, good land, reasonably accessible, would have to be broken in for settlement by people with limited _ capital. At the same time secondary industries would have to be intelligently developed, and that meant something far more important than a dispute over tariffs. "I do not think it will be impossible to get suitable migrants from Great Britain to come to New Zealand," Mr. Savage added. "Some of our best farmers to-day are men who came from overseas years ago to work as miners. However, there is room in the Dominion for other people beside British migrants, always provided, of course, that they are of a suitable tj'pe."

PROPOSAL WELCOMED

THE FIVE MILLION CLUB GOOD FOREIGN STOCK HON. <\V. E. BARNARD'S VIEWS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday "The Five Million Club would welcome suitable migrants from the Old Country, and the recommendation by the Oversea Settlement Board that, if insufficient newcomers can be obtained from Britain, foreigners of similar stock to Britons should be encouraged to migrate to the Dominions, is a proposal which commends itself to the ejub," said the president of the club, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, when his attention was drawn to the cabled summary of the Oversea Settlement Board's report. "While the question of expanding the market for New Zealand produce in the Old Country has some relation to British'emigration to the Dominions," said Mr. Barnard, "I agree that the problem of migration should not be merely a matter for bargaining. It is generally agreed that New Zealand requires, and is capable of carrying, a much larger population than -it possesses to-day, or is likely to possess in the absence of migration. While the general problem is one for the Government, advantage should be taken, I think, of the offers of responsible organisations, both here and in the Old Country, to carry out carefully-planned schemes on a small scale for the early planting of new citizens within' New Zealand.

"Australia appears to have a largescale scheme well tinder way, and it would bo wise if New Zealand could see its way to take similar action while the opportunity of obtaining suitable settlers is still open."

AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE FOREIGN IMMIGRANTS NO SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS (Received June 30, 10.<10 p.m.) CANBERRA, Jnno 30 "The Commonwealth Government has no intention of beginning immigration from countries other than the United Kingdom," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, in the House of Representatives to-day, in reply to a question whether Dutch migrants were coming to Australia. Mr. Lyons added that Australia would welcome selected foreign migrants, but no special inducements would be offered them to come here.